If signed by Governor Brown, Senate Bill 1030 will add a point to the driving record of motorists cited for Distracted Driving due to cell phone useage.

Senator Josh Newman (Fullerton) gained approval for Senate Bill 1030 on April 30th. If Governor Brown signs the Bill into law, insurance companies will add a point to the driving record of any person caught operating a cellular telephone while driving. According to Senator Newman, “Current pentalites in California don’t go far enough to deter dangerous distracted driving behavior.”2

Senate Bill 1030 reads as follows:

“Existing law prohibits a person from driving a motor vehicle while using a wireless telephone unless that telephone is specifically designed and configured to allow hands-free listening and talking, and is used in that manner while driving. Existing law also prohibits a person from driving while holding and operating a handheld wireless telephone or an electronic wireless communications device unless the telephone or device is specifically designed and configured to allow voice-operated and hands-free operation, and is used in that manner while driving. A person who is 18 years of age or younger is prohibited from driving while using a wireless telephone or an electronic wireless communications device, even if equipped with a hands-free device.

Existing law establishes that specified convictions and violations under the Vehicle Code and traffic-related incidents count as points against a driver’s record for purposes of suspension or revocation of the privilege to drive and that certain other violations do not result in a violation point. Existing law provides an exemption for the electronic device violations described above from being counted as points against a driver’s record for purposes of suspension or revocation of the privilege to drive.

This bill would abolish that exemption, thereby making those violations subject to a violation point against the driver’s record.”3